NHRC calls for inclusive education for all
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The United Nations (UN) has urged the government of Nigeria to place education at the centre of all peacebuilding efforts in order to build an enduring culture of peace in the country.
In a joint statement by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) to mark the International Day of Education in Nigeria, the UN emphasised the urgent need to prioritise education as a tool for promoting human dignity tolerance and peace.
“If education is placed at the centre of our commitment to peace, it can help empower learners with the necessary knowledge, competencies and attitudes to become agents of peace in their immediate communities,” said the Head of UNESCO Abuja Office and UNESCO Representative to Nigeria, Abdourahamane Diallo.
Diallo encouraged government to prioritise education at the top of its political agenda and rally influencers and wider civil society to push forward the movement to bring education into the centre of peacebuilding at all levels.
UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, on her part noted that: “While Nigeria has shown a commitment to creating safe school environments through endorsing the Safe Schools Declaration and developing the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools, there is room for further progress.”
She noted that education is a key driver of gender equality, economic growth, and social development, but sadly remains inaccessible to many Nigerian children.
“Their educational journey is often disrupted by attacks on communities and schools, including the abduction of students. These challenges are particularly acute for adolescent girls, potentially stalling the progress made in girls’ education in Nigeria,” she said.
In her message, the Director General of UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay explained that education must be at the heart of efforts to achieve and maintain world peace.
“The UNESCO recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development adopted by our 194 Member States in November 2023, is a major milestone in this regard. This global standard-setting instrument, the only one of its kind, is a roadmap for re-thinking and re-designing education systems to prepare learners to collectively shape more just, sustainable, healthy and peaceful futures for all.
“UNESCO looks forward to supporting education reforms based on this Recommendation across the world.” Azoulay said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu has tasked stakeholders on the need to push for quality, equitable and inclusive education for all.
He gave the message on Wednesday as Nigeria joins the rest of the global community to commemorate the International Day of Education, which is marked every 24th of January, with this year’s theme: “Learning For Lasting Peace”.
Speaking on the eve of the commemoration, Ojukwu said education is the key that facilitates the achievement of other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that: “When people are able to get quality education, they can break the cycle of poverty and there will be peace”.
He observed that education helps to reduce inequalities and empowers people to live more healthy and sustainable live, stressing that education is also crucial to fostering tolerance between people as it contributes to peaceful societies.
He stated that measures such as making education free and compulsory, increasing the number of teachers, improving basic school infrastructure and embracing digital transformation are essential towards achieving quality and accessible education.
Ojukwu added that while progress had been made towards the Agenda 2030 education targets set by the United Nations, continued efforts are required to address persistent challenges to ensure that quality education is accessible to all, leaving no one behind.
